Valve



Aug. 3, 1943. E. G. scHMlDT ETAL 2,325,802

VALVE Filed Dec. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 U8- 3, 1943. E. G. SCHMIDT ETAL 2,325,802

VALVE Filed Dec. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JL/' J0 2g L, l" lmnp-mg. l l: E a@ .5g y0 6 qm-Z Vg, Q7 E J '49 Patented Aug. 3, 1943 VALVE Edward G. schmidt and chester w. Yam, chicago, Ill., assignors to Ciane Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 22, 1941, Serial No. 123,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved type of gate valve. More particularly, it has for one of its principal objects the provision of a novel gate closure member having flexible expanding faces, whereby a fluid-tight seal at both the inletand the outlet seat faces of the valve is provided.

An important object of this invention is to provide a valve capable of use on relatively severe service, as for example, in refinery manifold service wherein it is desired to prevent even minute leakage of line uid through the valve in order that the many varieties of petroleum prod-- ucts confined in separate tanks do not communieasily accomplished on severe service.

member.

a valve embodying this invention.

cate with and thereby contaminate one another. gland 1, the gland enge follower 8 Supported At the present time it is the general rule that and held ad'justably by the bolts 9, the yoke erm conventional gate valves are used on renery Il, the handwheel I2 and its customary appurmanifold service but, unfortunately, the usual tenaneeS Slleh e@S the yOke Sleeve |0- vaives empioyed are not continually tight and Casing portion of the valve is equipped with retherefore a system known as blanking oit is fre- InOVeble bOdy Seat rings I3 or, if it is desired, the quently used. By blanking 01T is meant, the seat of the valve may be cast integrally with the breaking of the outlet connection of the valve bOdy A Stem I4 eXtendS between the yoke and resorting tothe installation of a blind flange, S1eel/e l0 and the gate elOSure member I6. and in that way denitely prevent the con- AS beSt ShOWn in Fig- 2, the gate I6 iS guided tamination of one fluid line with another. in the bOdy of the valve by the usuel guide rbS Blanking off" is an expensive and undesirable. I7 Which tend t0 maintain the gate I6 in suboperation and would willingly be dispensed with Stehtel alignment. If these guides I'I Were not if operators might receive reasonable assurance Provided the dise l5 Would be forced against the that valve leakage can be prevented. It is a gendownstream Seat by the OW 0f lld and thereby eral purpose to provide a valve capable of such .'30 Cause a galline, Scratching OI tearing of Seating performance that seat tightness is relatively Surfaces When the dSC is raised or lowered. The gate disc I6 is provided with a groove I8 around Another 'important object of this invention is the periphery 0f eeeh face 0Ve1` Which ennlllerly to provide a Valve having a gate closure member formed dSC faCeS Of rubber OI Other Sult- With means for expanding its faces whereby the able material are attached. The disc faces I9 expansion of the faces is accomplished by are preferably fastened, 31S ShOWl'l in Figs. 1 and under pressure in combination with positive 2 t0 the dis@ l5 by Ineens Of tWo metal rings means for compensating for changes or varia- 2| an@ 22 Whichere held t0 the die@ le by a tions in the fluid pressure resultant, for example, plurahty of machme Screws 23 POStOned at ihfrom temperature Changes in the pipe une. 40 tervals peripherally around the face of the disc. A further important object of this invention is 1h15 a Preferrld method of attachment' al' to provide a novel construction in a gate valve Og Valmus ot er methods may be employed hich permits the ,gate or closure member to be suc as 5.1mp1y Cememmg. the ruber to the W y metallic disc as shown in Fig. 5 wherein the anrfclprocably mol/ame as m the Ordmary'opera' 45 nular applications of cement are shown at 58 tion of the valve. Without SCOTmg O r mafrmg the between the rubber faces I9 and the disc I6. The seat faces of either the valve casing or closure peripheral grooves I8 communicate with each other and with a central bore 24 through the pas- Other and further important objects will besages 23 and 21 COIne apparent frem the diSClOSllleS in the OHOW- upwardly and in the preferred form shown enters ing specification and accompanying drawings of into the stem I4 and at a point 28 it communia preferred design of wedge gate Valve, in which cates with a flexible tubing 29. It is foreseeable Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional assembly view of that the tubing 29 may be attached directly to the disc instead of to the stem as shown and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional assembly view of 55 thereby eliminate the bore in the stem. The

the valve taken at right angles to the View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of a modified form of a valve employing this invention.

Fig. 5 is a view of a modified method of attaching the flexible disc faces to the disc closure member.

As shown in the drawings: fIhe reference numeral I indicates generally the body or casing of a valve having respective inlet and outlet ports 2 and 3, which is equipped with the usual bonnet 4, the valve stem packing 6, the packing The body or This central bore 24 extends other end of the flexible tubing or hose 29 is preferably afli'xed to the yoke bonnet 4 at 3I.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a cylinder body 32 consisting of two parts preferably made integral is mounted externally of the yoke bonnet 4. One part is an expansion chamber and reservoir 33 and the other part the main cylinder 34. As indicated, the chamber 33 and cylinder 34 are interconnected by thepassages 36 and 31 at their upper and lower ends, respectively. The purpose of the chamber 33 is to act as storage spaceA for the fiuid used in the cylinder 34. The cylinder 34 is preferably pressure filled manually by means of the lever 38 which pivots on the cylinder yoke 39, although obviously any suitable means for creating internal pressure therewithin may be used. The lever 38 pivoted on the pin 40 extending across the yoke 39 is located so that when the handle is in the vertical position the piston 4I is lowered and the fluid is forced downwardly through the flexible hose 29, then through the stem and closure bore 24 and subsequently out through the passages 26 and 21 to the peripheral grooves I8 whereupon the fluid acts against the rubber faces I9, expanding the latter members so as to contact the seats I3. The lever 38 is of the type known as the bent lever wherein the arm extending from the pivot point 40 is bent at an angle upwardly as shown at 42. This extension arm 42 is provided with a slot 43 through which the pin 44 xedly positioned in the piston rod 46 is movable. The upper end of the cylinder 34 is equipped with packing 41 and a screwed gland 48. The piston rod 46 has an enlarged lower end 49 in the form of and functioning as a plunger, A spring I is placed between the plunger 49 and the piston 4| and each of the latter elements is fastened to the said spring 5I at its opposed ends. When the lever 38 is in a vertical position the hook or other clasping element 50 of the chain 52 is snapped over the handwheel I2 to thereby lock the latter against rotation. This arrangement prevents the operation of the valve with the seating faces expanded and also maintains the load on the piston, preventing the release of the cylinder pressure. When the valve is to be opened the lever hook 50 is released from the handwheel and the lever handle 38 is brought down to the horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2. In this position the pressure within the pump chamber has been relieved and the disc seating faces have receded or withdrawn, allowing the gate closure I8 to be raised in the body I along the guides I1 without rubbing the disc faces against the seat rings I3. The piston 4I consists of a fiexible material such as a synthetic rubber or leather cup 53, stiffener plates 54 on each side of the cup base and a stud or bolt 56 or other suitable means for holding these elements together.

In a device of this type it may be desirable to employ a telltale valve 51 which is a controllable vent or sampling valve positioned in the bonnet or upper portion of the casing to enable the operator to determine the valve tightness or leakage past the valve seats after inflation. Thus it is easy to determine whether sufficient pressure has been applied to the inflatable covers I9 to insure valve tightness.

In operation, the valve is closed by rotating the handwheel I2 thus forcing the gate closure I6 to its seated position. Unlike conventional gate valves, the herein described device is not immediately tight because the guide ribs I1 guide the closure suiiiciently closely and therefore donot permit line pressureto force the closure against the outlet seat ring I3. Therefore, in order that the valve be rendered tight it is necessary to expand the rubber faces I9 until they form a fluid-tight seal with the body seat rings I3. pivoting around the cylinder yoke pin 40 and forcing the piston rod 46 and its plunger head 49 downwardly, This operation in turn forces the spring 5I andthe piston 4I likewise downwardly. When the cup-shaped piston 4I proceeds past the passage 31 pressure is built up below the piston 4I in the cylinder 34, thus forcing the fluid in the cylinder 34 to proceed to the peripheral groove I8 and so expand the rubber faces I9. It is thus evident that the pressure built up below the piston cup 4I will increase as the lever arm 38 is moved upwardly. This causes a compression of the spring 5 I thereby exerting a constant spring load on the piston to maintain pressure against the disc faces. Upon changes of temperature whereby the fiuid expands or contracts the piston is free to lift or to drop accordingly and maintain a constant pressure for the purpose heretofore described. The operator after closing the valve and inflat ing the disc faces should preferably open the telltale valve 51 and if fluid escapes he will then know that the valve is not tight and that therefore higher pressure should be applied to the expansible disc faces. It is obvious that this telltale valve 51 should be closed before the main valve is again opened in order that no leakage will occur therethrough.

The flexible tubing 29 may be made of synthetic rubber or any other suitable material. This tubing 29 is so located that it does not interfere with raising or lowering of the gate I6.

As shown in Fig. 4, the modified construction discloses that the bore or vertical passage 24 extends the entire length of the stem I4 where' it connects to a three-way valve 59 which has other connections respectively to an auxiliary pressure line 6I and a discharge 62 to an auxiliary line sump. With this structure the manual means of infiating the disc faces is eliminated in favor of using an existing air pressure line. The air pressure line may of course be similarly attached to the side of the valve where the manual means of infiating is now connected in the drawings rst described,

The valve is easy to operate and effects a substantial saving in time and labor in eliminating the blanking off ofthe line as it is now done. The chain and hook 52 perform an additional function aside from that of holdingr the lever 38 in an upward position. This additional function prevents rotation of the handwheel without first removing the hook 52 and so preliminar-ily assures a deflation of the rubber faces 'before the disc is raised. Inasmuch as the faces of the valve cannot be scored due to the deflation of the faces and also the guides in the disc and the body, the life of the valve will be increased considerably,

It is apparent that numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles described herein, and as defined by the claims appended hereto interpreted in light of the prior art.

We claim:

1. A gate valve comprising a casing, a gate closure mounted within the said casing, a stem therefor, guides within the casing for the said gate closure whereby transverse movement of the The bent lever 38--42 is moved upwardly gate closure is substantially restrained, the said gate closure having peripheral grooves in each of its faces and a central bore, a flexible cover for each closure face annularly attached to the said closure member, means for supplying fluid under pressure within the peripheral grooves of the gate closure whereby ination of each of the flexible covers is eected, the said gate closure having communicating passageways from each of said peripheral grooves to said central bore, the said stem having a central passage in communication with a. passage in the said gate closure, the said means for supplying fluid under pressure comprising a pump adjacent the said valve, including flexible tubing movable with the said gate closure, the said pump comprising a fluid storage chamber and an adjacent cylinder having passageways interconnecting the chamber and the cylinder.

2. A gate valve comprising a casing, a gate closure mounted within the said casing, guide means within the casing for the gate closure whereby transverse movement of the gate closure is substantially restrained, the said gate closure having recessed portions in each face, a flexible cover for each closure face attached to the said closure member, means for supplying a fluid under pressure to the said recessed portions of the gate closure whereby simultaneous inflation of each of the flexible covers is effected, the said gate closure member having communicating passageways from each of said recessed portions to a central bere therewithin, the said means for supplying uid under pressure comprising a pump and flexible conduit, whereby the said pump communicates-with a passage within the said gate closure, locking means associated with the said pump and said valve whereby pressure may be maintained within the said pump and operation of said valve inhibited when said locking means engage the said valve.

3. A gate valve comprising a casing, a seat in the said casing, a gate closure member mounted within the said casing, guides within the casing for the gate closure whereby non-vertical movement of the said gate closure is restrained, the said gate closure having grooves in each of its faces adjacent their peripheries, a flexible fluidtight cover positioned over the groove in each gate face, means for forcing a fluid under pressure to each flexible member, whereby the resultant inflation of the flexible members creates a fluid-tight seal between the gate closure member and the seat in the said casing, the said flexible members being joined by a passageway through the said gate, a flexible tubing connected at one end to the said passageway in the said gate and at the other end to the means for forcing a fluid under pressure.

4. A gate valve comprising a casing, a seat in the said casing, a gate closure member mounted within the said casing, guides within the casing for the gate closure whereby non-vertical movement of the said gate closure is restrained, the

said gate closure having grooves in each of its faces adjacent their peripheries, a flexible fluidtight cover positioned over the groove in each gate face, means for forcing a fluid under pressure to each flexible member, whereby the resultant inflation of the flexible members creates a fluid-tight seal between the gate closure member and the seat in the said casing, the said flexible members being joined by a passageway through the said gate, a flexible tubing connected at one end to the said passageway in the said gate and at the other end to the means for forcing a fluid under pressure, said means comprising an externally positioned pump and fluid storage chamber.

5'. A gate valve comprising a casing, a seat in the said casing, a gate closure member mounted within the said casing, guides within the casing for the gate closure whereby non-vertical movement of the said gate closure is restrained, the said gate closure having grooves in each of its faces adjacent their peripheries, a flexible fluidtight cover positioned over the groove in each gate face, means for forcing a fluid under pressure to each flexible member, whereby the resultant infiation of the flexible members creates a fluid-tight seal between the gate closure member and the seat in the said casing, the said flexible members being joined by a passageway through the said gate, a flexible tubing connected at one end to the said passageway in the said gate and at the other end to the means for forcing a fluid under pressure, said means comprising an externally positioned pump and fluid storage chamber, the said pump having an operating lever, a connecting member fixedly attached to the saidoperating lever and removably attached to the said handwheel, whereby when the connecting member is attached to -the said handwheel the valve is rendered inoperative.

6. A gate valve comprising a casing, a seat in the said casing, a gate closure member mounted within the said casing, guides within the casing for the gate closure whereby non-vertical movement of the said gate closure is restrained, the said gate closure having grooves in each of its faces adjacent their peripheries, a. flexible fluidtight cover positioned over the groove in each gate face, means for forcing a fluid under pressure to each flexible member, whereby the resultant inflation of the flexible members creates a fluid-tight seal between the gate closure member and the seat in the said casing, the said flexible members being joined by a passageway through the said gate, a exible tubing connected at one end to the said passageway in the said gate and at the other end to the means for forcing the fluid under pressure, independent valve means cooperating with the said casing whereby upon opening said independent valve means any leakage past said inflated covers is discernible.

EDWARD G. SCHMIDT. CHESTER W. YANT. 

